Travel cooker



April 3, 1956 T. E; MEAD 2,740,880

TRAVEL CQOKER Filed Jan. 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MUM g V 2N TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

T. E. MEAD TRAVEL COOKER April 3, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26,1955 I VENTOR. Mam

BY Z2411 ATTORN yaw United States Patent 2,740,880 TRAVEL COOKERTheodore E. Mead, Wilmette, Ill. Application January 26, 1955, SerialNo. 484,118

3 Claims. (Cl. 219-37) This invention relates to a travel cooker, andmore particularly to an electric cooker device which may be collapsedwithin small space and expanded, when desired, to form a cooking unit.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electric cookingunit which may be packed within small space while at the same time beingconvertible into a toasting, broiling, frying, etc., unit by making aminimum of changes. Another object is to provide a unit in which all thenecessary parts of a cooking device, including an electric heating coil,a case therefor, an insulating support for the case, a connector cord,and cooking pans, are provided in a single, compact structure suitablefor carrying in automobiles and other vehicles, while at the same timebeing readily set up into cooking units for making coffee, toast,frying, broiling, etc. Other specific objects and advantages will appearas the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in an illustrative embodiment, by theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of thecooking unit in collapsed or compact form for shipping; Fig.- 2, anexploded perspective view showing the various parts in spaced-apartrelation; Fig. 3, a perspective view showing the unit set up in positionfor broiling, toasting, etc.; and Fig. 4, a perspective view of the unitset up for frying, boiling, or other forms of cooking.

In the illustration given, designates a base which has a U-shapedgeneral form and which is provided at its top with inwardly-extendingsupport straps 11. The straps 11 are preferably provided at their innerends with upwardly-extending flanges 12. The bottom portion of theU-shaped member 10 may be equipped with insulation steps or supports 13.The side walls 14 of the U- shaped member preferably have their edgesturned inwardly, as indicated at 15, leaving at the bottom of the basean open area for receiving a pan 16 equipped with a handle 17.

Above the U-shaped member 10 and carried by the inwardly-extendingstraps 11 is a resistance coil housing 18 having supported therein aresistance coil 19 exposed on the underside of the housing 18. Terminalsfor the coil are connected with outwardly-extending pins 20 adapted tobe received within a socket 21 connected to an electric cord 22 andending with a plug-in connection 23. Secured to the top of the housing18 is an insulation block 24 having a flat top surface 25' adapted, whenthe unit is inverted, as illustrated in Fig. 4, to rest upon a floor ortable so as to provide a support for the coil housing in the invertedposition shown, with the coil 19 now being uppermost and exposed forheating a container there-above. In the specific illustration given, theinsulation block 24 is formed of wood, Bakelite, or other material, andscrews extend through the housing 18 and through insulating sleeves 26into threaded recesses in the insulation block 24.

A pan 16 is conveniently supported in the lower portion of the U-shapedmember 10 to support toast, cheese on toast, or food to be broiled belowthe coil 19. A second larger pan 27, which may also be equipped with ahandle such as handle 17, may be supported upon the inverted unit 18, asillustrated in Fig. 4, to carry food which is to be cooked. The pan 27also is effective in providing a closure for the case when the otherparts are inserted within the U-shaped member 10, as illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2.

Operation In the operation of the structure, the unit may be packedwithin small compass in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The pan16 is inserted in the lower portion of the member 10 and the housing 18is also inserted through the end openings of the U-shaped member to theposition illustrated, with the insulation block 24 extending there-aboveand providing a core about which the cord 22 is wound and held in acompact arrangement during shipment. Finally, the pan 27 is extendeddownwardly over the assembled parts to hold them in firm position withinthe composite structure.

When it is desired to set up the heating units, the case or pan member27 is removed, and the pan 16 and housing 18 moved laterally through theside opening of the U-shaped member 10 to free them from the member. Theunit 18 is then placed upon the inwardly-extending straps 11 so that itis supported in the position shown in Fig. 3 with the coil 19 extendingdownwardly. In this position, food may be cooked within the bottomportion of the structure 10 or within the pan 16 which may be insertedinto the position shown in Fig. 3.

For cooking in the vessel 27 or in another vessel, the housing 18 may belifted from the position shown in Fig. 3 and turned to the positionshown in Fig. 4. In this operation, the block 24 which preferably hasdownwardly and inwardly-inclined sides, provides a convenient coldhandle for the moving of the heater unit 18.

By way of example, a traveler staying in a motel and wishing to preparehis morning breakfast, may disassemble the unit as above described andplace first the unit in the position shown in Fig. 4. Coifee may then becooked in a coffee-pot or other vessel resting upon the exposed upperportion of the coil 19. After the coifee is cooked, the unit may belifted and moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 and toast, etc. may bemade in the lower portion of the unit or in pan 16. Cheese on toast mayalso be exposed for a toasting operation, and many different types offoods may be prepared. After the meal is thus prepared, the unit may bedisassembled and arranged in the compact form illustrated in Figs. 1 and2 for further travel.

It will be understood that many changes may be made in the structure asdescribed above. In other words, instead of using a one-heat element asdescribed, a two-heat element may be used, and three prongs may beemployed, one pair for high heat and the other for low or simmeringheat.

While, in the foregoing specification, I have set forth a specificstructure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating anembodiment of the invention, it will be understood that such details ofstructure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In combination, a U-shaped base member having a fiat bottom wall anddeep integral side walls extending upwardly and terminating ininwardly-turned supporting straps adapted to receive thereon a heatingunit housing, a heating unit housing adapted to be carried by saidstraps and provided on its underside with an electric resistance coilexposed for directing heat toward the botawasso tomwall of said base, aninsulation block secured to the top of said housing and having a flattopadapted to provide a base support for said housing when said housing isinverted, a pan adapted to be supported upon the bottom wall of saidbase and to be stored thereon in inverted position to provide a base forthe heating unit housing when the same is stored Within the base, and adeep pan telescopically received by said U-shaped' base and extendingdownwardly over said heating unit housing to lock the same within saidbase.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which said inwardlyextending straps areprovided at their inner ends with upwardly-extending flanges.

3. In combination, a U-shaped base having a fiat bottom wall and deepside walls extending upwardly there-- from, said side walls havinginwardly-turned edges ata spaced distance above said bottom wall toprovide enlarged end openings throughlwhich a pan may bereceivedon thebottom wall. of said base,,said side walls terminating ininwardly-extending straps, a heating unit housingladapted to be carriedby said straps andlprovided on its underside withlan electric resistancecoil exposed for. directing heat toward the bottom of .said base,.

an insulation block secured to the top of saidhousing and having a fiattop adapted to provide a base support for said housing when said housingis inverted, said insulation block being smaller than the top of saidhousing to provide a winding area there-above for receiving an electriccord, said housing having also prong connections extending laterallytherefrom at a spaced distance below the top of said housing, a panadapted to be received through the openings at the bottom of the baseand to be stored in inverted position thereon, said housing being alsostored between said side walls and upon said pan, and a deep-sided pantelescopically engaging the side walls of said base and enclosing theupper portion of said housing above said prongs'and releasably confiningsaid housing in stored relation within said base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,857,781 Hanyzer et a1. May 10, 1932 2,135,318 Barkinskyet' a1. Nov. 1,1938 2,183,866 Hutchens'et a] Dec. 19, 1939 2,188,757 Moon Ian. 30 19402,510,116 Kaplan' June 6, 1950 2,518,015 Jefirey Aug. 8, 1950

